Time controlling and recording mechanism.



W. WILLIAMSON.

TIME CQNTROLLING AND RECORDING MECHANISM.

. APPLICATION man APR.2.19I5. 1,255,968.

3 SHEETS-SHEET i.

Patented Feb! 12,1918.

W. WILLIAMSON.

TIME CONTROLLING AND RECORDING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED APR.2. 1915.

1,255,968. Patnted Feb. 12,1918,

3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

W. WILLIAMSON.

TIME CONTROLUNG AND RECORDING MECHANISM APPLICATION FILED APILZ, 1915.

Patented Feb. 12 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER WILLIAMSON, or EVERETT, nassaonnsnrrs, ASSIGNOR T0 CROSBY STEAM GAGE & ALVE coMrnnY, or nos'ron, MASSACHUSETTS, A conronjn'rion.

TIME CONTROLLING AND RECOBDIN G MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

application filed April 2, 1915. Serial No. 18,650.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER WILLIAMSON, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and resident of Everett, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Time Controlling and Recording Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to time controlling and recording mechanism and its object is to provide effective mechanism of simple construction and adapted to secure accurate records.

The invention is adapted particularly for use with a steam whistle valve and provides for blowing a whistle at predetermined times and for predetermined periods; also for changing Such times and periods at will; and for recording the duration of the blasts.

It is illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan. view of the device with the chart.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the device without the chart.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailed view.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4: Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a Section on the line 55 Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a view Similar to a portion of Fig. 2 with parts shown in a different PO51 tion. V

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 Fig. 8.

Fig. 8 i a Section on the line 8-8 Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 99 Fig. 2.

The several parts of the device are mounted on the casing 1 and frame 2aiiixed thereto and comprise, in combination, clock mechanism only partlv shown but including the arbor 3 having affixed to its upper end the chart support at, whereon is mounted the chart 5 held in place thereon by the washer 6 and thumb nut 7 engaging the upper end of the spindle8 which is keyed to said arbor 3 and carries atitslower end the pinion 9 looselv mounted on said Spindle, but adapted to be frictionally held thereto, so as to rotate therewith and with said arbor 3, bysaid thumb nut .7. Said clock mechanism includes also the arbor 10 having affixedtoits upper end the disk cam 11 .fur-

ri ked w th radial y disea ed Wa e-a2 and the arbor 13 having aflixed to its upper end the snail cams l t and 15 (made separately and adjustable, or as one) engaged, respectively, by the pawl 16 pivoted to the frame' 2 and the pawl 17 pivoted to the lever 18, the inner endlS of which lever is pivoted to the frame 2 and frictionally held thereon by the concaved Spring 18 the outer end of said lever 18 carrying the pointer 19 adapted to be moved across the to engage said curved portion 16 of pawl 16 and to thereby close the circuit A Fig. 3.

The pinion 9 engages, through a train of gears 22, the toothed sector 23 fixed to the lower portion 24; of shaft 2-1- and controlled by the counteracting spring 25, to the upper portion 24 of which shaft is afliXed the pen arm 26 carrying the pen 27; said upper portion 2%" of shaft 24: being pivoted concentrically to Said lower portion 2-1 and having a slight rotary motion relative thereto; and there being aflixed to said pper portion 2a a spring controlled lever 28 disposed above said sector and provided with pin 29, which loosely engages the outer end of said sector, having a limited play in hole 29 therein; said lever 28 being provided also with pin 30, which extends through the inner end of said sector, through clearance hole 30 therein, and engages lever 31 disposed below said sector and mounted on stud 32 and connected by link 33 with the armature 34 of the electro-magnet 35; whereby said armature is enabled to slightly oscillate Said pen arm (and pen) through a predetermined distance independently of the sector, whatever the position of the latter. I

The disk 11 is rotatably mounted between the spring arms 36and 37 disposed, respectively, above and below said disk and fur- .r f $w ve r v ta PPQ i s y d e" posed projections 36, 37 (Fig. 5) adapted to enter or leave the passages 12 in the disk, as the latter rotates, thereby coming into contact at certain predetermined times and for certain predetermined periods, depending on the size and spacing of the passages, as the disk rotates.

Two independent means, namely, the pawl means and the disk means, for making and breaking electric circuits have been described, which circuits are further controlled by the switch 39 comprising the contact arm e0 to be used with the pawl means and the contact arm 11 to be employed with the disk means; said arms being oppositely disposed on opposite sides of the spring arm 12, normally engaging the arm 40, but adapted to be thrown out of engagement therewith and into engagement with the arm all by the lever 18 carrying the pointer 19.

The several electric circuits shown on the drawings are constituted as follows:

(1) The circuit marked A which includes wiring a, the pawl 16, (with its curved portion 16), the pawl 17 (with its projection 1?), contact arm -10 and spring arm 4:2.

(2) The circuit marked B which includes wiring o, the arms 36 and 37 (with their projections 36 and 37), contact arm 41 and spring arm 12.

(3) The circuit marked C- Which includes the electro-magnet 35.

Th mechanism described is adapted for use particularly with a steam whistle valve which is indicated at to which the circuits A, B and C lead, the circuits A and B being there adapted, when closed, to open a self closing valve, thereby permitting the whistle to blow, while the circuit remains closed; and further adapted, through any suitable means in the whistle, to close the circuit C, thereby, through the electro-magnet 35 and armature 3 causing the pen 27 to deviate from its path as shown at 43 on the chart (Fig. 1); so long as the whistle blows.

The operation of the device is as follows: The scale 20 is marked to indicate signals of ten seconds duration, or of fractions thereof, controlled by circuit A; or to inclicate that the signals are controlled by circuit B; the pointer 19 (fixed to the outer end of lever 18) being moved to such mark on the scale as indicates the length of signal desired, when controlled by circuit A; or to a position indicating that circuit 13 is being employed.

The cams let and 15 fixed to the upper end of arbor 13 are so designed and relatively disposed that the pawls 16 and 17, respectively engaging said cams, shall for a given period, during each complete rotation of said arbor, be in contact, such period being determined by the position of the lever 18, as indicated by the pointer 19 on the scale 20,

as well as by the design of the cams and their period of rotation; during which period, which is predetermined, but which may be varied at will by simply moving the lever 18, the circuit A is closed and the whistle blows. Arm 18 is positioned manually and directly by the operator.

The scale 20 is marked to indicate -from 0 to 10 seconds and, when the pointer 19 is in the position shown, the contact of the pawls l6 and 17 will continue for 8 seconds. By moving the pointer to the right the duration of the contact is increased and by moving said pointer to the left the duration of the contact is decreased; and when the pointer reaches 0 there is no contact of the pawls.

By moving the pointer 19 to the zero mark on the scale, the pawl 17 is carried into a position in which it no longer can be brought into contact with pawl 16, or close circuit A; the lever 18 now engaging spring arm 4:2 and holding it out of engagement with arm 40.

By moving the pointer 19 beyond the zero mark on the scale, the spring arm 4-2 is brought into contact with arm 11, thereby permitting circuit 13 to be closed by the spring arms 36 and 37 when coming into contact as above described.

Means are thus provided for either: (1) blowing a whistle at predetermined times and for predetermined periods depending on the rotation period of the arbor 13; the dcsigns of the two cams 14 and 15; and the position of pawl 17, which may be changed at will, relative to that of pawl 16; or ('2) blowing a whistle at predetermined times and for predetermined periods depending on the rotation period oi the arbor 10 and the size and spacing of the passages in the disk 11; while means are also provided for changing at will from one system of signaling to the other, as described.

Normally, thumb nut 7 being eased, or removed, (pinion 9 being thereby permitted to rotate freely), pen 2'? assumes its outermost position, being drawn thereto and held therein by spring 25; and, while the pen is in this position, the chart 5, which is radially marked to indicate periods of time, such as hours, is clamped in place by the thumb nut, which at the same time frictionally engages pinion 9 with spindle 8 keyed as above explained to arbor 3, with the result that, when the chart is rotated by the clock mechanism,

the pen is driven inwardly by the sector 23 and train of gears 22, driven by the pinion 9, spirally marking said chart, such spiral showing the deviations of the pen therefrom caused by the armature 3i, all as hereinbefore described.

The invention is applicable to and intended to cover all cases, in which the chart is rotated by a rotary chart support in the form of a. disk as shown and described, or

in which the chart is caused to move lengthwise, as, for instance, by a rotary support in the form of a drum.

I claim:

1. Time controlling and recording mechanism comprising, in combination, clock mechanism; a chart support actuated thereby; cams independently actuated by said clock mechanism; an electric circuit normally open; co-acting spring contact pawls controlled by one of said cams and adapted to close said circuit at predetermined times and for predetermined periods; a manually operated lever for regulating the contact between the pawls; a second electric circuit normally open; co-acting spring contact arms controlled by the other of said cams and adapted to close said second circuit at predetermined times and for predetermined periods; a sector actuated by the clock mechanism and fixed to one member of a shaft; said shaft comprising two concentric members, the second member being oscillatingly mounted on the first named member; a pen arm fixed to the second member of said shaft; a pen for said arm; lever mechanism for oscillating said second member; an elcctro-magnet with its armature operatively engaging said lever mechanism; a third electric circuit including said electro-magnet; and a spring contact arm normally completing the first named circuit, but adapted to be moved by the pawl controlling lever and thereby open said circuit and further adapted by the same means to complete said second circuit.

Time controlling and recording mechanism comprising, in combination, clock mechanism; a chart support actuated thereby; an electric circuit normally open; cams actuated by the clock mechanism for closing said circuit at predetermined times and for predetermined periods; means under the control of the operator for varying such times and periods at will; a second electric circuit normally open; a perforated disk actuated by the clock mechanism for closing said second circuit at predetermined times and for predetermined periods; means under the control of the operator for opening both circuits or for opening one circuit and closing the other as desired; and re cording means.

3. Time controlling and recording mechanism comprising, in combination, clock mechanism; a chart support actuated thereby; a cam actuated by said clock mechanism; an electric circuit normally open; coacting spring pawls controlled by said cam and adapted to close said circuit at predetermined times and for predetermined pe riods; means under the control of the operator for regulating the contact of said pawls and thereby varying such times and periods; and recording means.

4. Time controlling and recording mechanism comprising, in combination, clock mechanism; a chart support actuated thereby; a cam actuated by said clock mechanism; an electric circuit normally open; means controlled by said cam and adapted to close said circuit at predetermined times and for predetermined periods; means under the control of the operator for varying such times and periods; and recording means.

5. In time controlling and recording mechanism, clock mechanism; a chart support afiixed to an arbor thereof; and recording mechanism includin a spindle keyed to said arbor; a pinion loosely mounted on and confined to the lower end of said spindle; a thumb nut engaging the upper end of said spindle and adapted when tightened to frictionally engage said spindle with said pinion; a spring controlled sector geared to said pinion; and a pen arm carried by said sector.

6. In time controlling and recording mechanism, clock mechanism; a chart support actuated thereby; and recording mechanism including: a sector actuated by the clock mechanism and fixed to one member of a shaft; said shaft comprising two concentric members, the second member being oscillatingly mounted on the first named member; a pen arm fixed to the second member of said shaft; and electrically operated lever mechanism for oscillating said second member.

7. In time controlling and recording mechanism, clock mechanism; a chart support fixed to an arbor thereof; a spring controlled sector engaged and actuated by said arbor; a pen arm carried by said sector; and means under the control of the operator for disengaging said sector and arbor.

8. In time controlling and recording mechanism, clock mechanism; a chart support fixed to an arbor thereof; a pen arm engaged and actuated in one direction by said arbor; means under the control of the operator for disengaging said pen arm and arbor; and automatic means for thereupon moving said pen arm in the opposite direc tion.

In testimony whereof I have aiiixed my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

WALTER IVILLIAMSON.

Witnesses:

RALPH WV. FOSTER, GEORGE Gr. CLARK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

